Brianne Pruitt
Former Web Editor
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Briefly: From World news services
BAGHDAD — Incumbent Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki cemented his grip on power Thursday, bringing an end to nearly nine months of political deadlock after he was asked to form the next government.
People in the news
Billy Joel is recovering from double hip-replacement surgery.
Briefly: From World news services
Police in Georgia say two young women from South Carolina were shot and killed on Thanksgiving and their bodies were discovered in a wooded area.
Lottery
OLYMPIA — Wednesday’s winning numbers in the Washington state Daily Lottery Game:778 Wednesday’s Lotto numbers
World briefs
Amsterdam Dutch anti-Muslim leader goes on trial today
As Wisconsin levee starts to fail, residents flee
PORTAGE, Wis. (AP) — Some residents in the central Wisconsin town of Portage fled their homes after a levee started to fail, sending water from the rain-swollen Wisconsin River onto a major roadway in one neighborhood and threatening to leave some people stranded in their houses. It wasn’t clear how many of the roughly 300 residents remained in the Blackhawk Park area after the only road into and out of the neighborhood was closed. Officials said part of the levee south of Highway 33 had eroded Sunday and water was leaking out, although the levee had not completely collapsed.
Lesbian seeking return to Air Force to testify today
TACOMA (AP) — A decorated Air Force flight nurse discharged for being gay is expected to take the witness stand at federal court in Tacoma. Former Maj. Margaret Witt is suing the Air Force in hopes of being reinstated. The American Civil Liberties Union of Washington said she would take the stand today before her lawyers rest their case.
Fire near gun club in East Wenatchee
EAST WENATCHEE — Firefighters expected to contain a large brush fire on Badger Mountain by the middle of this afternoon. The fire never threatened any structures and burned only grassland, said Doug Miller, fire marshal for Douglas County Fire District 2. He did not have an estimate of acreage burned.
News of record
News of record reports for Chelan County
Computer review: Cheaper gaming PCs offer decent experience
ATLANTA (AP) — Personal computers designed specifically for gamers are getting more powerful and more affordable by the month. They’re bursting with multi-core processors, powerful video graphics cards and plenty of memory to give you the most realistic graphics and action. Although it should come as no surprise that the computers that can run games consistently well are the ones at the high end of the price spectrum, I found machines for about $1,000 that can give you decent play.